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The following is issued on behalf of the Committee on Education and Publicity on AIDS:

Three youth groups today (Sunday) received the 1998 Best Project Awards of the "Youth Action on AIDS" Funding Scheme for their innovative AIDS education and publicity projects.

The three groups were the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association Tuen Mun Outreaching Team, the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association Shatin Social Service Centre and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Group Verbena C & Y Centre cum Study Room.

They were selected from among 24 youth groups which participated in the scheme last year in which a total of $170,000 subsidy was granted. Projects including training courses, educational programmes, exhibitions and competitions organised by the 24 groups enabled 40 000 young people to learn about more about AIDS and its impact on the community.

Officiating at the prize presentation ceremony were the Chairman of the Outstanding Youth Persons' Association (1998), Dr Thomas Ip; the Artistic Director of the Chung Ying Theatre Company, Mr Ko Tin-lung; and Asian Games Bowling Competition Gold Medallist Ms Che Kuk-hung.

Established since 1991, the "Youth Action on AIDS" Funding Scheme is run annually by the Task Force on Youth of the Committee on Education and Publicity on AIDS to encourage and mobilise young people in organising innovative projects on education and publicity on AIDS.

Successful group applicants comprising at least five members each, would be given a subsidy of not more than $8,000 to help them to implement their proposed programmes.

The Committee on Education and Publicity on AIDS is now inviting applications from youth groups to take part in the "Youth Action on AIDS Funding Scheme" for 1999. Copies of a leaflet on the 1999 funding scheme and application forms are available at the Red Ribbon Centre on First Floor, Wang Tau Hom Jockey Club Clinic, 200 Junction Road, Lok Fu, Kowloon. For enquiries, please contact Mr Mak Sik-yan of the Red Ribbon Centre at 2304 6268 during office hours.

End/Sunday, February 28, 1999

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